ironbjorn Posted August 21, 2022 Posted August 21, 2022 I'm not much of a drop shotter, but the bite has been horrendous for me since mid June. Neds aren't even producing, and I can't yet generate any bites on a Vision 110 (should be changing soon I hope, it was my MVP from September to December last season). So I've got no choice but to move to drop shotting. I'm a huge believer in Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks, so I'm stuck on that. For the Dream Shot, would a size 1 or 1/0 be better for this bait? Or am I off the mark completely on size? Quote
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted August 21, 2022 Super User Posted August 21, 2022 4 minutes ago, ironbjorn said: So I've got no choice but to move to drop shotting. No choice?….. Really? Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted August 21, 2022 Super User Posted August 21, 2022 https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/powerbait-maxscent-flat-worm-1454397 I nose hook a #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook Quote
Bass Rutten Posted August 21, 2022 Posted August 21, 2022 I use the dream shot but never with circle hooks (live bait only), with how small and thin it is I would guess the size 1 would be better than 1/0 and size 2 might be better yet. I think the angled eye on the gammy would not stand the hook out and would droop as that design is made for snelling. Owner makes the mutu light wire circle hook with the eye in line with the shank (see pic) which would stand the hook more horizontally and probably make for a better drop shot presentation. I've always been curious how circle hooks would work with wacky and dropshot, I have both styles of circle hooks in a full range fo sizes buried somewhere, I'll see if I can dig them up and experiment a little and report back. Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted August 21, 2022 Global Moderator Posted August 21, 2022 4.25” bait? I think I would use the size 1 hook in the nose 1 Quote
ironbjorn Posted August 21, 2022 Author Posted August 21, 2022 54 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said: No choice?….. Really? Yes, if I want to catch fish I have no choice but to do what I don't like to do. It's not meant to be as literal as you've made it. 11 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said: I use the dream shot but never with circle hooks (live bait only), with how small and thin it is I would guess the size 1 would be better than 1/0 and size 2 might be better yet. I think the angled eye on the gammy would not stand the hook out and would droop as that design is made for snelling. Owner makes the mutu light wire circle hook with the eye in line with the shank (see pic) which would stand the hook more horizontally and probably make for a better drop shot presentation. I've always been curious how circle hooks would work with wacky and dropshot, I have both styles of circle hooks in a full range fo sizes buried somewhere, I'll see if I can dig them up and experiment a little and report back. The Gammy Octopus Circle is my go to for Wacky. I've found nothing better. Interesting observation about how it would work with a drop shot. Quote
Super User WRB Posted August 21, 2022 Super User Posted August 21, 2022 Weightless wacky rigged a circle hook makes sense to prevent damage from swallowed baits. Can’t see any reason for a nose hooked soft plastic drop shot rigged soft plastics as the hooks itself in the upper lip 99% of the time, never had a swallowed drop shot hook bass. Tom Quote
PressuredFishing Posted August 21, 2022 Posted August 21, 2022 Dream shot bait is a bait I like,1 or 2 size hook, mosquito style hooks or light worm hook. 1 Quote
Basser2021 Posted August 21, 2022 Posted August 21, 2022 When I was like 13 or 14 I used some on a shaky head and tore the Spotted bass up! But I've never used them on a drop shot rig. 1 Quote
Super User LrgmouthShad Posted August 21, 2022 Super User Posted August 21, 2022 3 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said: No choice?….. Really? @ironbjorn do you shaky head? Quote
CrashVector Posted August 21, 2022 Posted August 21, 2022 3 hours ago, roadwarrior said: https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/powerbait-maxscent-flat-worm-1454397 I nose hook a #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook Those maxscent flat worms are getters for sure 4 hours ago, ironbjorn said: I'm not much of a drop shotter, but the bite has been horrendous for me since mid June. Neds aren't even producing, and I can't yet generate any bites on a Vision 110 (should be changing soon I hope, it was my MVP from September to December last season). So I've got no choice but to move to drop shotting. I'm a huge believer in Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks, so I'm stuck on that. For the Dream Shot, would a size 1 or 1/0 be better for this bait? Or am I off the mark completely on size? Lol...try a zoom trick worm, black, on a 3/0 EWG. No weight. You'll catch fish. 1 Quote
Super User LrgmouthShad Posted August 21, 2022 Super User Posted August 21, 2022 3 minutes ago, CrashVector said: Those maxscent flat worms are getters for sure Lol...try a zoom trick worm, black, on a 3/0 EWG. No weight. You'll catch fish. Why in the heck do you need an EWG hook on a thin trick worm? Quote
Super User gim Posted August 21, 2022 Super User Posted August 21, 2022 If I had no choice but to drop shot I would seriously consider just not fishing until the bite improved. It’s the worst type of bass fishing that exists. 3 Quote
ironbjorn Posted August 22, 2022 Author Posted August 22, 2022 1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said: @ironbjorn do you shaky head? Yes, when I can. The specific water I'm struggling on has a soft, mucky, gooey, dead veggie, mossy bottom that strangles any bait that touches it though. 36 minutes ago, CrashVector said: Those maxscent flat worms are getters for sure Lol...try a zoom trick worm, black, on a 3/0 EWG. No weight. You'll catch fish. I don't fish black Trick Worms, but I fish other Trick Worms and different variations of black Senkos. No luck. This place is ridiculously pressured. Not even a Ned is getting it done, or a Wacky. The beginning of the season saw many good Wacky days though, but not for over 2 months. 22 minutes ago, gimruis said: If I had no choice but to drop shot I would seriously consider just not fishing until the bite improved. It’s the worst type of bass fishing that exists. Hence why I don't really ever do it. I've thrown the kitchen sink and now I feel like I have no choice but to throw this God forsaken presentation. 1 Quote
Bass Rutten Posted August 22, 2022 Posted August 22, 2022 1 hour ago, ironbjorn said: The specific water I'm struggling on has a soft, mucky, gooey, dead veggie, mossy bottom Found the problem lol, ime that area probably isn't holding many fish, have you noticed weeds thinning out recently? If so you might be on a lake they recently poisoned, natural lake? Quote
Super User Mobasser Posted August 22, 2022 Super User Posted August 22, 2022 Pick up some smaller thin 4" worms. Get some Charlie Brewers Spider Slider heads. Fish them very slowly on or near the bottom. Then, try slowly swimming them in the water column. Something will strike this old, proven , finesse presentation. The key is fishing slowly. 1 Quote
Super User NorcalBassin Posted August 22, 2022 Super User Posted August 22, 2022 Size 1 Owner mosquito light has worked great for me with a nose hooked dream shot. Caught many 3-4 pound LM at Clear Lake on that combo and never had any issues hooking or landing them (drag fairly loose w/5# test). Quote
ironbjorn Posted August 22, 2022 Author Posted August 22, 2022 16 hours ago, roadwarrior said: https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/powerbait-maxscent-flat-worm-1454397 I nose hook a #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook I originally settled on the Dream Shot over the Flat Worm because I was reading that the Flat Worm is a heavier plastic and needs more movement to keep from going vertical. But people can't stop raving about the Flat Worm so I went with it instead. Pearl and Black Shiner. ? Quote
The Baron Posted August 23, 2022 Posted August 23, 2022 Are you after largemouth, or smallmouth? For smallies, I use a sz 1 VMC spin shot hook with (mostly) a nose-hooked MaxScent Flatworm, Flatnose Minnow or an XZone Pro Series Finesse Slammer. 3/16oz. cylinder weight most of the time, 1/4oz if its a bit windy or I'm fishing deeper than about 15-20ft. For largemouth, I like 1/0 spin shot hook with a wacky hooked 5" senko or a 2/0 hook with a threaded 6" worm (exposed hook) or a t-rigged EWG (I think mine are Gamakatsu dropshot hooks) and a 1/4oz or even 3/8oz weight. Throw that and walk it back slowly along a weed edge and you'll be in business. Just fish it as slow as you have to to get bit - some days you might have to shake it in place for 10-20 seconds to get bit, other days they'll be all over it. And don't just think of a dropshot as a deep water presentation - we routinely use it in very shallow water and have great results as it's a way to hold a bait in place and wiggle it, so a very slow offering for those lazy ones. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.